Rutherglen Reformer

Pupils to experience citizenshi­p ceremony

Cathkin High youngsters invited to event at council HQ

- Marc McLean

A group of Cambuslang school pupils are to be given royal treatment this week with a special invite to a citizenshi­p ceremony.

Seventeen teenagers from Cathkin High will attend the event tomorrow (Thursday) morning where a group of foreigners living locally will officially become British citizens.

Lady Susan Haughey CBE, the Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshir­e, leads the ceremony where citizens traditiona­lly swear an oath to the Queen and country, or alternativ­ely give an affirmatio­n to be a faithful servant of the country.

The sixth year pupils are being given special access to the ceremony, which is usually held in private, at the South Lanarkshir­e Council headquarte­rs in Hamilton.

Deputy Lord Lieutenant John McKenzie said: “This is a unique initiative that’s not being done anywhere else in the country. The whole ethos behind it is to educate school pupils on the role of monarchy and the role of the Lord Lieutenant in Lanarkshir­e community.

“It’s about trying to impart that knowledge about the monarchy to our schools and how the lieutenanc­y works.

“We’re delighted to be welcoming school pupils along to our citizenshi­p ceremony which involves people from all over the world. It’s a private, but very formal ceremony where the Lord Lieutenant is acting on behalf of the Queen.

“We will include every secondary school in South Lanarkshir­e in other citizenshi­p ceremonies for the rest of the year.”

In tomorrow’s ceremony the pupils will join the people being granted citizenshi­p, along with members of their families, the Lord Lieutenant representi­ng the Monarchy, the provost representi­ng the council, along with a registrar who completes the documentat­ion and officiates at the ceremony.

Lady Haughey and her office are keen to engage with schools and support them in future events, such as prizegivin­gs.

Lady Haughey also recently teamed up with a selection of high school pupils to create a website, which will provide an insight into her interestin­g role as the area’s Lord Lieutenant.

The website features an overview of the history of the Lord Lieutenant’s office, including an interactiv­e map of the area the Lanarkshir­e Lieutenanc­y covers.

To access the website visit: www.lanarkshir­elieutenan­cy. org.uk

 ??  ?? Citizenshi­pLady Haughey will lead tomorrow’s ceremony on behalf of the Monarchy
Citizenshi­pLady Haughey will lead tomorrow’s ceremony on behalf of the Monarchy

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